The Vikings announced that they have signed running back Ronnie Hillman in the wake of Adrian Peterson‘s potentially season-ending injury. Meanwhile, starting tackle Matt Kalil will have season-ending hip surgery and will be placed on IR. 
While Hillman will join Minnesota’s running back group, he will not be the primary back. Coach Mike Zimmer confirmed that Jerick McKinnon will be the team’s starting running back while Peterson is out. Matt Asiata also figures to be in the mix and Hillman, for now, figures to be the No. 3 RB on that depth chart.
Hillman, a 2012 third-round pick, was cut loose by Denver in early September. The move somewhat surprising after he led Denver in offensive snaps (524) during the 2015 regular season. He also led the team’s rushers in starts (11), attempts (207), yards (863) and touchdowns (seven). However, Hillman wasn’t exactly integral during the Broncos’ Super Bowl-winning playoff run and he was bumped this year in favor of Devontae Booker and Kapri Bibbs.
Peterson’s injury will garner all of the headlines today, but Kalil’s injury is also a difficult one for the Vikings. Minnesota’s offensive line was already underperforming and it will only get worse without the former No. 4 overall selection. The injury is also bad news for Kalil on a personal level as he is in his contract year. After a strong rookie season, Kalil has not impressed and he was hoping to improve his stock before hitting the open market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
let me explain something before I go on any further. I am a die hard Vikings fan and bleed purple, with that being said, the Vikings forceably have just been released of their 2 weakest links on the offense. Kalil wil need no explaination as to why he is. here is where I might lose some of you with AP, when AP is in, the defense knows its more often then not a run play and if it isnt, he is no threat to catch out of the backfield. at least with Asiata and Mckinnon you leave the defenses guessing. I believe their offense will actually be better and more balanced without eitner of them on the field
While I agree with the fact that AP is purely a rushing threat, that is also what makes him such a huge part of the offense. Opposing defenses are often stacking the box when it seems like a running down/play so its up to the offensive coordinator to disguise those plays with play-action and up to the QB to take advantage of what will most likely end up being one-on-one man defense against the receivers.
Skol72 I couldn’t agree with you more. I thought Kalil was a bad pick from the begining and as big an AP fan as I am my own thoughts last year was we should have traded him away fro draft picks. I hope he comes back from the injury I really do but I also think the Vikings willbe forced to spread the ball out more and it will make them a better team because of it.
I think you may be on to something. Besides, like it or not AP was trending down not up.
The winner in all of this has to be the Eagles. I agree AP is one dimensional but as JT pointed it is also a huge help to a team with a suspect QB. Now Bradford is going to be in the cross hairs.